Col. Martin E. Timko is the commander of the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard, Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport-Shepherd Field, Martinsburg. He leads an ANG Airlift Wing with 1,000 full-time and part-time military and civilian members as both military commander and Dual-Status Technician Air Commander. The wing’s four groups are tasked with the support and flying of global strategic airlift missions utilizing the C-17A Globemaster III.
Col. Timko earned his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1993. He began his flying career as a C-130E (AWADS) Evaluator Navigator while on active duty stationed at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. After two tours at Pope AFB, he joined the West Virginia Air National Guard and the 167th Airlift Wing in 2001. At Martinsburg, he served as an Instructor Navigator on the C-130H3 until attending Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training in 2005 when the wing converted to the C-5A Galaxy. Upon his return from C-5 Pilot Initial Qualification, he served as the Chief of Current Operations of the 167th Operational Support Squadron until he assumed command of the 167th Airlift Squadron in 2012. Prior to his current position, Col. Timko was the 167th Operations Group Commander, Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport-Shepherd Field, Martinsburg.
Col. Timko has both deployed and flown missions supporting Operations JOINT ENDEAVOUR, JOINT GUARD, SHINING HOPE, SOUTHERN WATCH, CORONET OAK, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL. Col. Timko is a Command Pilot with over 5,300 total flying hours to include both C-5 and C-17 pilot and C-130 navigator hours. He has 202 combat sorties to his credit as well as 148 combat support sorties.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Science, History, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2003 Associate of Science, Computer Science, ECPI College of Technology, Manassas, Va.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence.
2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence.
2021 Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Penn., by correspondence.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1994–May 1995, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
2. June 1995–March 1997, C-130E Mission Navigator & Executive Officer, Pope AFB, N.C.
3. April 1997–June 2000, C-130E Instructor Navigator & Squadron Chief of Safety, Pope AFB, N.C.
4. July 2000–August 2001, C-130E Standardization & Evaluation Navigator, Pope AFB, N. Car.
5. September 2001–June 2005, C-130H3 Instructor Navigator & Squadron Assistant Flight Commander, Martinsburg, Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport, W.Va.
6. July 2005–August 2006, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
7. September 2006–April 2008, C-5A First Pilot & Squadron Asst. Flight Commander, Martinsburg EWVRA, W.Va.
8. May 2008–February 2012, C-5A Mission Pilot & Chief of Current Operations, Martinsburg EWVRA, W.Va.
9. March 2012–December 2015, C-5A Mission Pilot & Commander, 167th AS, Martinsburg EWVRA, W.Va.
10. January 2016–December 2019, C-17A Pilot and Commander, 167th OG, Martinsburg EWVRA, W.Va.
11. January 2020–Present, C-17A Pilot and Commander, 167th AW, Martinsburg EWVRA, W.Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
February 2022–January 2023, Senior Liasion Officer to the Qatari Ministry of Defense, U.S. Central Command, Doha, Qatar, as a colonel.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot / Senior Navigator
Flying Hours: more than 5,300
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-1A, C-130E/H3, C-5A, and C-17A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze star
Kosovo Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal with bronze star
Air and Space Overseas Service Ribbon Short
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and oak leaf cluster
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jun. 2, 1993
First Lieutenant Jun. 5, 1995
Captain Jun. 2, 1997
Major Jun. 2, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel Jul. 19, 2010
Colonel Apr. 7, 2017
(Current as of June 2023)